Epidemiology of acute bronchiolitis: what has changed after the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic? Analysis of pre-pandemic and post-pandemic hospitalisations in a Piedmont Spoke Centre

Background: Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) affects the respiratory system, causing mild symptoms confined to the upper airways. The aim of this study, conducted in the Novi Ligure hospital, was to investigate the epidemiological and clinical variations in hospitalisations for RSV bronchiolitis in the pre- and post-SARS-CoV-2 pandemic periods. Materials and Methods: all subjects referred for bronchiolitis or respiratory RSV infections to the paediatric unit in study between January 2016 and March 2023 were enrolled. Data were collected on the following SDO codes assigned to the patient at discharge. Data were collected on 208 admissions for bronchiolitis or RSV respiratory infection, with a total of 200 subjects. Results and Conclusions: this study found that the incidence of RSV infection and overinfection in patients hospitalised for bronchiolitis has increased compared with the pre-pandemic period.